"Reader, you must know that an interesting fate awaits almost everyone, mouse or man, who does not conform."

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

barack & snow days

we have an honest to goodness snow day here! it's only the second time since we've lived here that i've seen this kind of snow - and it's not a lot, comparatively to our former life as canadians. but in a city without graders, sanders or salt trucks, everything shuts down. not even starbucks will be open this morning! i had forgotten how beautiful a fresh fall of snow is, covering up all the brown and making everything new.

and i can't help but feel connected to The People this morning. i know that all across durham (and the country!) this morning, people are on their couches in their pj's, drinking coffee and watching coverage of the inauguration of barack obama. even though we're all in our own homes, all of our attentions & hopes are directed toward the same thing, no matter who we voted for. hoping for a new page in our history, a new page in our economy, a new page for racial equality...hoping that president obama is who he says he is, and can acheive what he hopes to achieve...hoping that as a country we will see a new optimism and resolve, a new unity and a fresh start.

it's like a dump of snow has fallen over all of us - our nation gets to make fresh footprints.

that was a human statement, not a political one... that we are all on a new page, whether we like it or not, and i certainly think that we all ought to be looking forward, hoping that our future will be brighter than it is today - whether we are "red" or "blue". our families will all rise or fall with the fortunes of the country in which we live and work - so why not hope for the very best, and put our personal preferences aside to work to make it a reality?

I too am a fan of the last sentence...also, I think that we all should have our attentions and hopes directed toward the same thing...our leader needs us to. You can choose your attitude. Very well said Rachel and I'm glad I don't fall in those mediocre minds Vincent speaks of =)

That Einstein quote is great. And here in Kentucky at Asbury, many stopped and watched that television in the student center (with your mother's fabulous Obama cupcakes) in a moment that brought tears to my eyes. On Facebook, I posted a picture of the US flag that I had taken yesterday at Asbury College. In the caption, I noted that I am really excited to finally be proud of my flag again. Some might find that dramatic, but it's the truth for me. And it feels really good to feel proud of my country! For the first time in eight years, I really am a PROUD American!

My attentions and hopes are in one man and one alone: Jesus. If that makes me mediocre, I'm ok with it.

I'd love to get caught up in this reckless hope that is drifting about, however I can't ignore the fact that we do not rise and fall together. That may be as God intended and we should all work to that end, but it is not reality.